Traction-engine



(No Model.)

P. ROBINSON.

TRACTION ENGINE. No. 311,580. Patented Feb. 3, 1885..

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FRANCIS WV. ROBINSON, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

TRACTION ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,530, dated February 3, 1885.

Application filed March 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TractionEngines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of road or traction engines in which the boiler,with the fire-box and attachments, is suspended upon coiled springs which rest upon the rear axle; and it consists in the improved combination and arrangement of the parts, as more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an ordinary boiler broken off at the front end. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the coiled spring and its housing, with attachments resting upon the axle; also showing the bed plate by which the housing is secured to the boiler. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the axle, showing the housing and spring resting upon the same. Fig. 4 is a top of the housing and its position upon the axle, and the bed-plate to which the housing is secured.

In Fig. 1, a represents the boiler, of ordinary construction. Z) is a rectangular plate, secured to the side of the boiler by serew-bolts. h is the housing, which is of rectilinear form, projecting at right angles to the face of the bed plate I), having curved vertical sides, the lower surface of which is recessed at g to receive the axle J. A bar, 6, is secured at right angles to the recess across the opening of the same, which is held in position by screwbolts cl passing through lugs f. The bar 6 passes under the axle J, as shown in Fig. 2. The lugs f are formed upon and project from the top plate of the housing It laterally. The housing h is constructed with a vertical cylindrical opening to receive a coiled spring, 8, which at its upper end has its bearing against the top plate of the housing h, and rests at its lower end upon a washer-plate or follower, i, having side flanges, and resting directly upon the axle J, Fig. 2. The cylindrical opening in the housing h is open at the bottom, and thehousing h, carrying the boiler, is thus permitted a vertical motion independ ent of the axle upon the spring 5.

In Fig. 8, m'is a temper-screw, the point of which engages the head of the spring 8, and can be used to regulate the position of the housing vertically relatively to the axle by increasing or relaxing the pressure as the temper-screw 0c is turned up or down on its thread.

Extending horizontally from the face of the bed-plate 1), near its upper edge, is a flange or brace, n, attached to and supporting the top plate of the housing It at its center laterally.

0, Fig. 1, is a vertical slot in the lower central part of the bed-plate b, to receive the axle above the curve of the axle, where it passes under the rear portion of the boiler. There is a space between the bottom surface of the boiler and the horizontal central portion of the axle J, as seen at an, equal to the vertical motion which is allowed by the spring 8, by which the bottom surface of the boiler does not come in contact with the horizontal portion at of the axle J. The bolts cl are allowed to work loose in the bar 0, so that when the spring 3 is depressed the bolts drop loosely down through the bar, and the recoil of the spring restores them to their bearings, while the head of thebolt coming in contact with the bar, and the bar being held by the axle, the reaction of the spring is checked by the bolt-heads.

Having thus fully described my said improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.. The combination, in a road-engine, of the axle J, passing under the fire-box of the boiler, the housing h, having a slotted base-plate, b, in which the axle plays, and the spring s,located in a circular recess in said housing, the baseplate of the housing being fastened to the boiler, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a road-engine, of the axle J, passing under the fire-box of the boiler, the housing 72, having a longitudinal groove,

g, on its lower side, and a. slotted base-plate, I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in b, in which the axle plays, the spring 8, 10- presence of two Witnesses. cated in a circular recess in the said housing,

and the bar 6, secured under the axle by means of rods d, passing through said bar and through lugs 0n the housing, the base-plate I Vitnesses:

0f the housing being fastened to the boiler, HARRY M. YEO, substantially as specified. E. H. ROBINSON.

FRANCIS WV. ROBINSON. 

